Chances are I watch more movies in theaters than you do. And like people who live in the Valley, or anywhere else they have theaters, I love Harkins Theatres popcorn the most. I found a couple of people who know a lot about the subject to answer this week's question — or questions, really: What makes Harkins popcorn so good? And why are people obsessed with it? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, I spoke with Dan Harkins, who owns Harkins Theatres and wh...
Dec 02, 2024•10 min
Holidays are all about traditions. Sort of. They're also about whatever person or event you're celebrating. Beyond watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and then eating too much turkey and falling asleep during football games, what else is there? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, Betsy LaVoie from the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving parade, Alan Collier from the Mesa Turkey Trot and Kent Somers reporter of the Territorial Cup, the football rivalry game b...
Nov 25, 2024•14 min
You've probably heard the jokes — being a meteorologist for a Phoenix TV news station must be the easiest job in the world. Today it's hot, tomorrow it's hotter, that kind of thing. And while there is some truth to the joke (Arizona doesn't exactly have a lot of wintery weather), the last few summers have changed things. The last two summers have been the hottest on record in Phoenix. That's changed the minds of many climate-change deniers and changed the jobs of meteorologists. This week on Val...
Nov 18, 2024•15 min
It's Scorpio season. Yes, the zodiac sign. So what better way to honor this water sign than by learning about the historic creatures that share its name. With more than 50 known species in the Valley — including the giant desert hairy and the Arizona bark scorpion — these eight-legged creatures are far more noticeable than you might think, especially under a blacklight. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Ectotherms keepers Luke Starkweather and Kevin Vo...
Nov 11, 2024•12 min
For a long time, Arizona was not always in the political spotlight — or if it was, it was for controversies like former Gov. Evan Mecham, who was impeached and removed from office, or SB 1070, the legislation that made being in the country illegally a state crime, and made it illegal to fail to carry immigration papers, among other things. How things have changed. Now Arizona's a swing state; presidential candidates visit as often as kids visit the desert bar at an all-you-can-eat buffet. But so...
Nov 04, 2024•17 min
Dia de los Muertos is a popular holiday in Arizona, and really everywhere, but also one that many of the people who celebrate it may not know much about. And while there my be no technically wrong way to celebrate, there is definitely a right way. So how do you celebrate Dia de los Muertos respectfully? This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we find out. I spoke with Mathew Sandoval, an Arizona State University professor and an expert on the holiday, as wel...
Oct 28, 2024•16 min
Everybody loves a ghost story, but do they love ghosts? The Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona's most haunted hotel, has been captivating visitors since 1902 with its ghoulish activities and eerie tales. In this week’s episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Bill Goodykoontz dives into its ghostly history by answering the question is the Copper Queen Hotel really haunted? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2024•14 min
The Arizona Cardinals notoriously known for their ups and downs have faced their share of challenges over the years. However, with the right strategies, talent, and teamwork the Cardinals may see a new fate. In this week's episode of Valley 101 a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, Host Bill Goodykoontz discusses the historic nature of this NFL team and the prospects for its future ahead with Bob McManaman, a columnist for The Arizona Republic and Theo Mackie, Cardinals reporter. ...
Oct 14, 2024•14 min
For the first time in nearly three decades, Arizona is not gearing up for hockey season. At the end of the 2023-2024 season, the Arizona Coyotes announced their relocation to Salt Lake City, Utah, ending professional hockey in the state. This wasn't the first time the Coyotes had dealt with ownership instability or rumors of relocation. The team has been riddled with complications since they arrived in 1997. So why was this the time that it actually happened? This week on Valley 101, a podcast b...
Oct 07, 2024•18 min
Many debates arise over the topic of Mexican Food. Tacos or Burritos? Corn or flour tortillas? and when it comes to authenticity which city reigns supreme, Phoenix or Tucson? But with Mexican cuisine representing a large portion of Arizona's food scene, which city takes first place? In this week's episode of Valley 101 a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we discuss this culinary showdown and you can get the best mexican food near you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...
Sep 30, 2024•31 min
Over 100 years ago, North Phoenix's main road, Bethany Home Road was just a small path that served a specific community. Bethany Home sanitarium was considered a safe haven helping those with tuberculosis. Although, the sanatarium did get renamed a few years later its legacy lives on today. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we discuss the history of Bethany Home Road, and why history should always be documented. Learn more about your ad ch...
Sep 23, 2024•18 min
Before it was left empty, this state-of-the-art building was home for two seasons of horse racing. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting style racing, but not for very long. Today, we bring you the history of Goodyear, Arizona's Trotting Horse Park. This vibrant hotspot was the talk of the town in 1965, and while its run was short lived, its legacy still gallops through time. Saddle up for this week's episo...
Sep 16, 2024•22 min
It's a record year in Phoenix when it comes to the heat. But it's always been hot here: Phoenix is considered to be the nation's hottest city — but even now the early mornings and late nights cannot always guarantee a break from high temperatures. Yet despite it all, Arizonans live their lives here. They go to work, they walk their dog, they see their friends. They survive in the heat day after day. For most, salvation comes from a jump in the pool or time spent in the air conditioning, but ever...
Sep 09, 2024•33 min
Kaely Monahan is onto a new job so we wanted to take the time to thank her and showcase her best work. The Arizona Republic podcast team hopes you have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend and we'll be back next week with a regular episode of Valley 101. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 02, 2024•35 min
While September 22nd is the "official" end of summer, Labor Day is often marked as the unofficial end of the season. But summer is one of the most nostalgic times of the year. And there are certain activities or experiences that Arizonans try to get in every year. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, members of our newsroom wax poetic about their summer traditions and what must be done for an Arizona summer to feel complete. Learn more about your ad choic...
Aug 26, 2024•22 min
Drive about 45 minutes southwest of the Phoenix Valley, and you will reach an expanse of the Sonoran desert with a long, rich history. The Gila River runs through this area, which was once lush with flora and fauna. Now, with the river dammed up, the water doesn't always flow. Nonetheless, the region is still home to an abundance of people, wildlife and historical treasures. These three aspects are what locals, archaeologists, and biologists hope to preserve as a national monument. The Great Ben...
Aug 19, 2024•24 min
Power grids in the United States are struggling. As temperatures increase and populations grow, so does the stress on systems that keep our electricity running. For the West, electricity is most important in the hot summer months. It keeps our cool air-conditioners pumping. Going without air conditioning for too long can be not only an annoyance, but also a major health risk, especially in states like Arizona with over 100-degree averages each summer. Arizona is drastically below the national av...
Aug 12, 2024•17 min
Vice President nominee JD Vance rubbed some Americans the wrong way when a clip from a 2021 interview surfaced recently. He derided some voters as "childless cat ladies" in a now infamous quote, Vance said the country is run "via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too." While the comment could be brushed off as political rh...
Aug 05, 2024•14 min
After the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and after digging into Arizona's prominent role in the plot to overturn the 2020 election, Republic reporters repeatedly heard questions we couldn't quite answer. What is going on in Arizona? Why does this state seem to have people willing to push the political envelope further than almost anyone else? Hosts of Rediscovering season 4, The Roots of Radicalism, join Valley 101 to discuss why extremism is the focus of their four part investigation and how...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 16 min
In the world where business and film collide, many states have lucrative film tax incentives that attract big production companies to their sites. Arizona's previous tax program closed its curtains in 2010, but a new initiative, the Arizona Motion Picture Program, went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, that reinstated film tax credits if a production meets certain criteria. Despite the absence of bigger production companies in the Valley, the community of independent filmmakers is going strong. There...
Jul 22, 2024•20 min
Something Arizonans hear a lot is that we're running out of water. While the state has enough water to not induce complete panic yet, conservation methods are being put into place and Arizona's long-term water supply is being considered more often by policymakers. The state's water supply comes from three sources: surface water, reclaimed water and groundwater. These sources are then broken down into three sectors: municipal, industrial and agricultural. Municipal goes toward homes, business bui...
Jul 15, 2024•18 min
While it may not be the state first thought of when considering Black history, Arizona has a diverse and rich history of African American stories dating back to the 1800s. Yet most of the archives, stories and icons are not being preserved or celebrated. Today, about 5% of Arizonans are Black and some community leaders and activists are working to ensure the buried history is uncovered. From academics to faith leaders, a new generation of voices are speaking up about the truth in Arizona's Black...
Jul 08, 2024•56 min
Across the nation, Fourth of July is marked by friends and families gathering to watch firework displays – or in some cases, set off their own light shows. Under Arizona law, only some types of fireworks can be legally used and sold during certain times of the year. But some illegal fireworks still make their way into the sky, and it's sparked a debate between Valley residents on what the law should be. This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, explo...
Jul 01, 2024•19 min
It might be hot out, but we have a cool and cute episode for all you dog-lovers. Today we revisit one of our favorite episodes from former podcast producer Taylor Seely, on how to hike safely with your dog. Now, it's probably too hot to hit the trails here in the Valley, but that just gives you the perfect excuse to hit the road and seek out cooler elevations with your pooches. Taylor Seely speaks with Bretta Nelson, a spokesperson for the Arizona Humane Society. Plus, an only-in-Arizona style s...
Jun 24, 2024•16 min
The Republic's podcast team is working feverishly on a brand new season of Rediscovering, our investigative podcast series. We're so close to launching as well! Since the team is deep in production, we're bringing you one of our favorite Valley 101 episodes from 2023. Producer Kaely Monahan explores some odd facts about the 48th state. We hope you enjoy it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2024•44 min
With Phoenix already experiencing temperatures over 110, many of us are wondering "when will the monsoons start?" Officially, monsoon season kicks off June 15. But most of us want to know when the rains will come. That depends on how hot it gets. While we might be suffering under a heat dome, the high temps are drawing up moisture from south of the border. And that's what we need if we're going to see rain. The podcast team sits down with state climatologist Erinanne Saffel to find out how, wher...
Jun 10, 2024•16 min
One of the most recognizable writing styles in Arizona history came from Clay Thompson. The Iowa transplant captured the hearts of readers with his Valley 101 column in the Arizona Republic for almost 20 years. Punctuated by the iconic Rodin statue, "The Thinker," Thompson wrote thousands of quippy columns and answered questions from readers about everything from cactuses to hiccups. Thompson's writing style was recognizable and even bordered on snarky, calling his bosses "masters" and referring...
Jun 03, 2024•21 min
Happy Memorial Day! The podcast team is enjoying the holiday weekend. So we want to reshare one of our most popular episodes to kick off the summer: five of the best places to beat the heat in the Valley. hosts Kaely Monahan and Amanda Luberto hash out their top picks for spots to beat the heat. Plus they explore pools of the past and the new water attractions coming to Phoenix. Let us know if you visit any of these spots, found new ones, or miss some old ones! Submit your stories and Arizona qu...
May 27, 2024•32 min
Wildfire season historically starts just before monsoon season. However, the period during which a wildfire can occur is now widening and bringing with it more severe blazes near the Valley. In Arizona, wildfires were once expected from late April into the monsoon season. Now fires can start from late February or early March into September. Climate change is linked to higher-severity fires, and insurance shouldn't be your only protection. Having a safety plan, fortifying your home, and making sm...
May 20, 2024•23 min
The 5 C's are something all Arizona children learn at one point or another. Cotton, citrus, cattle, copper, and climate have long been advertised as positive reasons to come to Arizona. Each of these "C's" represents an important aspect of Arizona's economy. Or at least they did. Perhaps more important than the 5 C's themselves is the cultural role they play. Even now, students in classrooms across the state are learning about the 5 C's. In this episode of Valley 101, we ask you what the 5 C's m...
May 13, 2024•31 min
